Head questions...

[Fabrimacator21]

I have an old set of camel humps that I'm looking to sell and am wondering what is a reasonable price. The heads have less then 20 miles on them after having a 3 angle valve job. I've seen them from 1000 down to 300.
I plan to use the money to buy either dart irong eagle platinums or afr eliminator street heads.

My other question is, are the afr's worth the extra money over the darts?

I was reading up on the darts and found out the 180cc runner heads aren't a true platinum which means I'd have to go 200cc to get a platinum head.

It's either the 200cc dart irong eagle platinums or afr 180cc street eliminator heads.

The darts are about $750 on ebay and the afr's are $1200.

Are they worth the extra 450 bucks?

 

[Fabrimacator21]

Beuller.... beuller?

 

[dyeager535]

The old cliche stands...they are worth what someone is willing to pay for them.

With the advent of Vortec heads, they are pretty much relegated to nostalgia or racing classes that prohibit Vortecs.

If they have big valves they are likely worth something to someone, otherwise worth little more or less than any other set of recently rebuilt old school heads out there. WAG $200 and you'd probably sell them. Could always try higher and see what happens. Craigslist is free.

AFR's are AL, Darts are not, correct? What's the weight savings worth to you, and is the Dart combustion chamber as efficient as AFR's?

 

[Fabrimacator21]

They are 2.02 1.60's. What does WAG mean?

Correct, the darts I'm looking at are iron and the afr are aluminum. I know the afr's make more power but I'm not sure if it's worth the extra 450 bucks.

Dart describes the platinum iron eagles as cast iron heads with the same porting as their aluminum heads, but the 180cc (best cc size for torque) heads are not platinum so I would have to go up to 200cc iron heads for the platinums.

I really want the afr eleminators... especially since those are supposed to make significantly more power then their old heads which were basically the best head out there, but 1200 bucks is a lot of money. I only paid 1800 for the motor.

 

[dyeager535]

Wild A$$ Guess. Some places things like this are easy to get rid of, others, no takers.

I'm assuming you hav ea motor that will take advantage of some high performance heads? I haven't looked at the upper end aftermarket stuff in awhile, didn't even know they had "platinum" darts.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

WAG = Wild Ass Guess

Old heads like that aren't worth much any more, like mentioned the newer heads (for example the vortec stuff) flow much better for cheap.

As mentioned, at this time, the only market for old heads like this is for classes that prohibit the newer stuff.

You can buy a brand new set of vortec heads that will largely outperform the camel hump stuff for $600 or so brand new, I see vortec heads go used for $100-300 all the time (like most heads, watch out for cracks). The vortec heads are superior to the older SBC heads in just about every way, GM small blocks gained ~50-60 hp or so when they switched to the vortec heads (they also switched to MPFI which is responsible for a small part of that gain, the roller cam also helps a bit).


Honestly, IMO, your only chance of getting any money for the camel hump heads is finding someone who's doing a resto type deal.

 

[dyeager535]

Wild A$$ Guess. Some places things like this are easy to get rid of, others, no takers.

I'm assuming you have a motor that will take advantage of some high performance heads? I haven't looked at the upper end aftermarket stuff in awhile, didn't even know they had "platinum" darts.

 

[4X4HIGH]

When i would get a set of camel humps i would rebuild them and sell them for 300.00/pair. They are old school technology now so the only people that will really be interested are people trying to restore an old muscle car. If the heads have been fitted with larger valves than the stock 1.94"/1.5" then the select group of potential buys just got smaller yet. Many people call them "fuelie" heads although in my 22 years as a professional machinist i've only ever seen 2 pairs of "fuelies". The "fuelie" heads were used on engines that came with the rochester mechanical fuel injection and those heads were 2.02"/1.6" valve sizes from the factory and the actual castings are different than any other camel hump head even though the casting number is the same.

 

[Fabrimacator21]

good to know

Looking at ebay it looks like I need to check my casting number. Some of them are going for 750 for a bare set.

 

[4X4HIGH]

good to know

Looking at ebay it looks like I need to check my casting number. Some of them are going for 750 for a bare set.

Those people are day dreaming unless they are the ultra rare angle plug head. I'll bet yours are either a "461" or "462" casting number,

 

[Fabrimacator21]

Those people are day dreaming unless they are the ultra rare angle plug head. I'll bet yours are either a "461" or "462" casting number,

I was thinking the same thing... 700 bucks for 2 bare camel humps? I may just keep them and put them on my boat(1978 305). I need to get the casting number and do some research on em.

 

[bablazer73]

performance wise.. They won't pull in a good buck return. The aftermarjkets heads of today FAR out perform most stock gm heads. if they are "true" 2.02/1.60 heads they are worth more to a guy restoring a car. For the best info about the heads, find the casting#'s and the date codes. These will most likely tell you what you really have. If they were 1.94's heads carved out to 2.02(very common in the 70's and 80's before aftermarket heads pounded the market) they will most likely perform WORSE than stock. Unless the bowl was blended to match the oversized valves, overall flow was reduced by the bowl shrouding the valves.

I have a set 0f 74 333881 heads that I "found" on the motor that was in my plow truck
74 2.02/1.60's . find the casting #'s and see what you really have.
http://www.joesantiquecars.com/Chevrolet-engine-block-casting-numbers.html

 

[76zimmer]

I gotta go with the group here, that they probably won't bring much.. I'm into C2 Vettes and unless you find someone who needs the heads you got, you probably won't get more than 300 for a good set. UNLESS they are 461X heads...(the X is visible only on the block side of the head, and is cast into the head on the underside towards each end of the head)....these had a 10cc bigger intake port, and were only used in 63. Could you post up the casting no's and dates, and I will post them for you on a corvette forum if you'd like.

 

[Fabrimacator21]

I gotta go with the group here, that they probably won't bring much.. I'm into C2 Vettes and unless you find someone who needs the heads you got, you probably won't get more than 300 for a good set. UNLESS they are 461X heads...(the X is visible only on the block side of the head, and is cast into the head on the underside towards each end of the head)....these had a 10cc bigger intake port, and were only used in 63. Could you post up the casting no's and dates, and I will post them for you on a corvette forum if you'd like.

I'll try and get some numbers... only problem is my truck is 1 1/2 hours away in storage where I used to live.

The aftermarjkets heads of today FAR out perform most stock gm heads. if they are "true" 2.02/1.60 heads they are worth more to a guy restoring a car.

Thats pretty much what I'm hoping for.

I know the newer heads are WAY better then the camel humps but it may be a nice little upgrade for my boat.

As far as the heads on my boat go I really doubt that the stock 305 heads on a 200 hp boat motor from '78 are better then camel humps. But I could be wrong. Looks like I should get the casting number off the boat 305 heads and check those out as well.

I know the camel humps made decent power on the 327's... 350 horse is pretty respectable.

Thanks for the help guys,

I'll try and get the numbers.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I'll try and get some numbers... only problem is my truck is 1 1/2 hours away in storage where I used to live.



Thats pretty much what I'm hoping for.

I know the newer heads are WAY better then the camel humps but it may be a nice little upgrade for my boat.

As far as the heads on my boat go I really doubt that the stock 305 heads on a 200 hp boat motor from '78 are better then camel humps. But I could be wrong. Looks like I should get the casting number off the boat 305 heads and check those out as well.

I know the camel humps made decent power on the 327's... 350 horse is pretty respectable.

Thanks for the help guys,

I'll try and get the numbers.

IIRC you can't use anything larger than a 1.84" intake valve on a 305 engine or the valve hits the small diameter cylinder bore.

 

[76zimmer]

thats right Scott....I think a lot of them even came with 1.72 intakes.

Fab21...what is the engine of use here?

 

[Fabrimacator21]

IIRC you can't use anything larger than a 1.84" intake valve on a 305 engine or the valve hits the small diameter cylinder bore.

You da man... good info. Thanks.

The motor is in my 88 k5. I had a stock 350 in it but with 35's it's way underpowered.